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The spectacular Guachimontones, or circular pyramids, near Teuchitlan probably mark the “capital” of a sophisticated civilization that dominated western Mexico 2,000 years ago. 

Every night three foxes come to our porch to enjoy a delicious plate of fruit my wife Susy puts out for their benefit. 

Close to four years ago, archaeologist Rodrigo Esparza invited me to visit Presa de la Luz, a dam near the town of Arandas in Los Altos (the Highlands) of Jalisco. Here local rancheros had discovered a great many petroglyphs, some of them large and elaborate, along the shores of the reservoir.

Some years ago, during a long flight from Oman, I contracted some kind of respiratory disease and got very sick. Doctors prescribed antibiotics and I took them while slipping deeper and deeper into a zombie-like state in which I could barely move.

Los Chorros are the only “serious” waterfalls along the entire length of the river known both as Rio Caliente (Hot River) and – after it cools down – Rio Salado (Salty River). They are located 23 kilometers west of Guadalajara and reachable via Highway 70, the route to Tala and Ameca.

Jalisco’s obsidian deposits are thought to be the fourth largest in the world. And because pre-Hispanic civilizations in Mexico did not know how to work metal, obsidian was literally a “gift of the gods” allowing them to manufacture arrow and spear heads, knives, scrapers and even mirrors.